Extreme burnout

[liverpool122]

I am a healthcare worker who works in multiple education settings. I have posted before in AIBU so some of you may have seen.

I’m at each site one day week - in that day I’m expected to see students back to back, complete admin and reports, create any training that they request etc. There’s always disagreements about how staff want me to spend my time. It’s near on impossible to get everything done and I’m always behind. Spend most of my time trying to gain access to wifi or printing (I can’t work for myself, have to send resources to staff who then forget to print stuff for me!) I’m not even enjoying the clinical side, I just feel like I can’t be bothered most of the time.

My company all work the same way and so I have no opportunity to ever see my team. I don’t really make friends at schools either as I’m not there enough. So it’s a very lonely unsociable job. I’m suffering really bad burnout and my boss isn’t particularly helpful.

I am in work today and really struggling. Brain fog, feel sick, heart rate through the roof, teary. The thing is, I can’t book annual leave as I work term times. I only just had half term so am not entitled to any time off until Easter.

I’m also looking for new jobs but nothing is concrete yet and also my notice period is two weeks.

It’s slipping into my personal life, where I have no energy to do anything outside of work but to sleep and do nothing. It’s having an effect on my social life.

I can’t book time off and can’t afford to quit without a job offer, so what now? :(

Sorry notice period is two months** I meant!

Bump, can anyone help as I feel lost and really struggling.

I’m really sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. I am a health care professional in mental health and so can empathise with the all consuming and relentless nature of the job.

There is the option to get signed off by your GP and you could use that time to recuperate and look for other jobs? Would bank work in a hospital, community setting care home etc. be an option? I find bank work so freeing, enjoying patient contact without the relentless pressure, targets etc. I keep myself on my work bank so I know in my mind if it gets too much I can just do that. Try the local hospitals or community health teams for bank options?

In the short term make sure you prioritise your self care, food, fluid, sleep, contact with family and friends. It is easy to let this slip when you are in a constant state of anxiety. Let your free time be free time and don’t log on to work e-mails etc.

I hope things start to feel less stressful for you - I know it is hard to think things will get better when you are n the thick of it - but it will somehow!

Start looking for a new role now. If you don’t have the energy now agree with yourself that you will look at Easter with a view to being being able to give notice before the end of the summer term.

This might sound odd but stop trying to do your job so well. Every time a problem occurs like WiFi or printing note it down so you have a record. Meet your service users needs and keep records etc. to an acceptable standard but no more. Do what is possible in the time and remember good enough is good enough.

Do something you enjoy on weekends even if you don’t feel like it otherwise life will seem like a treadmill.

If your mood is really low speak to your GP.

Are you a Speech and Language Therapist OP? If so, I can totally relate. It's a really tough time to be doing the job. I don't have any advice, but sending lots of sympathy.

Great guess @Meepthesheep, I am! I’m struggling with the customer being the school and relying on them for everything - i dream of just focusing on the clients and parents if necessary!

I am really struggling and not getting my work done as I just can’t do it. I do think I put a lot of pressure on myself to do work to the best of my ability even when it’s not possible. I have an interview next week for a new job but I just dread the thought of seeing out this job for at least another two months…